I often disagree with njpg, especially the one-sentence hot-take reviews.

But they nailed it in this case, this is a pretty standard 1969 show not without serious highlights - Top of the World is a good energetic opener, the late lamented Doin That Rag, and an elegant and dynamic jam in the Cryptical reprise among them.

Moving to set 2, I have a hard time saying one Dark Star is better than another even in 69 when they were playing it so often, but this one has a lot going for it. Garcia comes out flying into the jam after William Tell, but a nice transition into Lovelight gets flubbed at the last minute.

A really good, 4 star show, for sure, but IMO it (and this run in general) don't stand up to their reputation, hence overrated is technically apt.

But by all means worth a listen, or a bunch of listens at that.

Pretty smoking show.

This is one of the most overrated Dead shows I know of.

What a second set.

The Dark Star is one of those great ones where the amps are cranked up to the max and the seventh member in the band, Johnny Feedback, is alive and feeling very fine indeed. From about 15 minutes onwards the room is pretty much continually flooded with gorgeous, warm analog guitar feedback. It's not like Jerry, Phil and Bobby are wailing away on their instruments (although that happens often enough), it's just that the sound system is jacked right to the point of boiling over.

The drum rolls at around 24:00 - 25:00, when Jerry returns with the theme, will fry your brain. The Steven has a great (but short) jam, beautiful chords followed by some clear and potently sung vocals. And into the Eleven!

Bobby is noticeably low in the mix for much of The Eleven but, as always during this period, hanging perfectly in the pocket when Phil and Jerry are going head to head, and picking up the pieces when they hit the wall.

The Lovelight is right up there with everything else. Some evil sounding feedback, a little Pig rap about 2 minutes in, and then a beautiful played 3:00 first instrumental break (I always thought this part of the song was similar to The Seven Jam from the Cafe au Go Go later in September), with Jerry bending some mean country licks towards the latter part. Then it's 14 solid minutes of prime Pig and Company. I don't understand how they did it.

This show at the ark saved me from very high waters.

Stephen really is impressive and The Eleven picks up considerably with great vocals, Phil included.
This Dark Star will mesmerize, great intro. from Mountain's...
The Eleven's from 2/27, 1/26 and 1/25 smoke also.
Stephen>The Eleven from 4/13 is like this one, smashing.

This is top ten for 1969 which is like top 40, best Boston show that was.

Eleven

One of my favorite shows. Not sure why the previous review talks about the Mountains of the Moon-->Jam into Dark Star as being "totally unique" since the short jam is the one they had been doing for the first four months of '69. It is the same jam as all the previous 4 months, but it still is good, just not unique in anyway.

Get your hands out of your pockets.

This is probably my favourite of the 3 night run at the Ark. Of the 3 Dark Stars performed on this run, this is my favourite as well. Aside from an incredibly fun Dupree's, the high point of this show for me is the Mountains Of The Moon>Jam. It's completely unique and a stunning performance.

i'm with yah buddy...these shows are all wonderful, and if it weren't for the somewhat degraded sound quality and tape flips this could have been my favorite of the run. As mentioned Dark Star>St. Stephen>The Eleven is just ridiculous. The Dark Star is especially fantastic, and has become what may be my favorite performance of the year. It blows the version on live/dead away, that’s for certain. The Lovelight with the Caution Jam is also very nice, if a bit sloppy.

I would also like to add that the Morning Dew, GMLSG, and Death Don't from set one all *RIP* - this is a very high energy show from start to finish - jerry and pig bouncing leads back and forth in Schoolgirl will send you positively reeling! and listen to the concluding jam in this Morning Dew and dare say that Garcia wasn't a fucking genius...

What we have here is a prime example of a fantastic show that gets over looked because of the enormity of the previous night and the following night.
Truth be told, this run of 3 shows at the Ark are all phenomenal. Each one can stand on it own merits. And each one deserves ample attention.
There are lots of high points to this show. But the real meat and potatoes is the Mountains Of The Moon > Dark Star > Saint Stephen > The Eleven portion of the gig. Excellent Dark Star. At the 17 minute mark I forgot when/where/who I was. Mind blowingly good stuff.
4/21, 4/22, and 4/23 are all essential/required listening. I have a hard time comprehending the fact that these shows have not been officially released.

Peace. Dig it.